help me figure out why I can't keep clown loaches alive

[kimmers318]

Okay...if I can find some levamisole today I will certainly try it, but didn't see any last night, but I know of a much larger better aquarium store much farther away. Do they carry that kind of thing at farm feed stores? We have several of those around here since we are pretty close to the boonies so to speak. Then dosage information is needed! Will start searching.
Thanks.

If I can't find the levamisole i will start some pimafix and hope for the best.

[NancyD]

Mine sold sheep pills individually but I read they're messy. You can put them in a coffee filter. I used the powder pig wormer, not much in the bottom of a plastic bottle. You don't have to mix it all up at once if you can divide it carefully, the dosage has a pretty wide range.

[kimmers318]

Thanks for all of your help so far....but I am back! I couldn't find levamisole anywhere....not at feed stores, or aquarium stores up to an hour away. I found 1 vet who could prescribe it....after I drive an hour away and take the loach in for an exam. Some how that seemed a little stressful at this time on the loach. I did find some prazipro that claims to work on flukes,tapeworms,flatworms, and tubellarians....nothing else claimed any benefit on internal parasites. I had thought pimafix was good for that...but it is for internal bacteria. I also looked at maracyn2 and didn't see any claims for internal parasites. I dosed with the prazipro last night....any suggestions to go with it? Or for using it? It says 1 dose for 5-7 days, may be repeated in 3-5 days. As of yesterday, this loach was still eating...although wouldn't eat last night after moving to new surroundings. Should I go ahead and order the levamisole...or see if I am catching it early enough in this loach that the prazipro will work?

[kimmers318]

No suggestions on the prazipro? Things seem to be "okay" right now...not great, but "okay". Spotty is eating a little, not much, every day....and has become quite picky. Mostly only wants brine shrimp (spirulina enhanced), but he isn't getting skinny or showing signs of excessive stress, other than hiding more. Hopefully life will improve for him and he will get back to eating more.
Next question....any opinions on battery gravel vacs with a sand substrate? This tank is on the bottom of a tank stand and the siphon action sucks, so I would like to get a good battery vac that will siphon crap out easily for me and won't get problematic as I learn to NOT suck up sand with the vacuum!